SE FFA sweeps winter CDE competition

Monday

Dec 31, 2012 at 1:00 PM

The Sleepy Eye FFA recently took part in two Winter CDE competitions.

By Jenna SoukupFFA Reporter

The Sleepy Eye FFA recently took part in two Winter CDE competitions.

The first, The University of Minnesota Winter Invitational, took place Thursday, Dec. 13 at which both Josie Schieffert and Brandon Roiger placed first in the Creed and Prepared Public Speaking competitions respectively. The Creed CDE is designed to develop leadership by providing for member participation in both speaking and interpreting the FFA creed. The creed is scored on voice, stage presence, power of expression, general effect and response to questions.

The FFA Prepared Public Speaking CDE is designed to develop rural and agricultural leadership through providing for member participation in agricultural public speaking activities and stimulating interest in leadership and citizenship. The Prepared Public Speaking Event is scored on the following: content of manuscript, composition of manuscript, voice, stage presence, power of expression and response to questions.

Also, recently attended by the Sleepy Eye FFA was the Region VI Winter CDE competition on Tuesday, Dec. 18. This was qualifying competition to attend the state competition in April. Roiger and Schieffert also participated in this contest, with Roiger placing first and Schieffert placing second, both advancing to state.

Other teams that attended this competition were the B.I.G., or Best Informed Greenhand, and Small Animals Teams. B.I.G. is a competition that tests the team’s knowledge of FFA facts, history, parliamentary procedure and important people in FFA. The team shows this knowledge in a written test. Sleepy Eye B.I.G. team members included Natalie Stevens, who placed ninth individually; Kolten Nienhaus, who placed 11th individually; and Jeni Kotten. The B.I.G. team placed third overall in the competition and will be advancing to state.

The Small Animals CDE is a competition that tests the team’s knowledge of common pets, pet health problems, pet care problems, animal anatomy and identification of different species of cats, dogs, birds, fish, parasites and rabbits. The team shows this knowledge through a 50 problem test on common facts and nutritional information, correct labeling of animal anatomy, mathematical solving of pet care problems, as well as identifying 50 pictures of companion animals with the correct species name.

The Sleepy Eye Small Animals team is comprised by Ashley Johnson, Tiffany Ludewig, Justine Bleick and Jenna Soukup. The team placed first with a considerable 34 point lead, and will be advancing to state. In her first ever competition, Justine Bleick placed 8th overall individual and Jenna Soukup placed first overall individual with a 59 point lead over second place. This recent showing by the Sleepy Eye FFA predicts they will be tough competition for the rest of the state at the upcoming Minnesota State FFA Convention to be held this April.

Regions was great competition day for the Sleepy Eye FFA with all teams and individuals advancing to state.